On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah tackles a listener's privacy concerns about what app developers can see when iOS and Apple Intelligence search through your apps, along with whether it's possible to bulk-manage Siri suggestion settings across all installed apps.

Don't forget to send in your questions for Mikah to answer during the show! hot@twit.tv

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Sponsor:

• shopify.com/hot

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge joins Mikah Sargent this week on Tech News Weekly! How AI is helping elders stay independent & provide companionship. How Apple and Google's app stores are pushing users toward deepfake nude apps, per an organization's report. And inside the crazy backstory behind an AI plush companion.

• Jennifer talks about Samsung's newest updates to its SmartThings Family Care service and how technology and AI are increasingly being used to help take care of elderly people & provide companionship.
• Mikah talks about a report from the Tech Transparency Project that found both Apple & Google's app stores that host & direct users to apps that generate non-consensual nude images of women.
• And Victoria Song of The Verge joins the show to share her review of a $399 AI companion and her very unique experience with the device overall.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Guest: Victoria Song

Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly.

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:

• zscaler.com/security
• Simply CX

Whether you're lending your phone to a kid or relying on maps off the grid, what you don't know about your device's security could come back to bite you. This episode shows why a few simple settings make all the difference when it counts.

• Setting up Medical ID and emergency contacts for safety
• Using Face ID and Guided Access to lock and protect apps
• Offline maps: how and why to download before you travel
• Find My and Life360 for tracking people and devices, with privacy tips
• Apple Messages' Check In and third-party safety apps like bSafe
• WiFi Assist and WiFi Calling: improving the reliability of calls and data
• News: Apple removes outdated Pages, Keynote, and Numbers from App Store
• Feedback: Free access to the Calm app via insurance and company perks
• Picks of the Week: Pokemon Go auto-catch gadget and Picsew screenshot tool

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

Contact iOS Today at iOSToday@twit.tv.

Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Sponsor:

• shopify.com/ios

Find out how Apple's Focus filters quietly transform your entire digital environment, switching not just alerts but the apps, screens, and even info you see the moment you switch context. Mikah Sargent shows how to turn your Apple setup into a tailored workday powerhouse or a distraction-free oasis with just a tap.

• Customizing app content and behavior with focus filters
• Built-in focus filters for Mail, Calendar, Messages, Safari, and system settings
• Third-party apps and the slow adoption of focus filter support
• Lock screen and home screen pairing with focus modes
• Crafting lock screens for work, mindfulness, and other custom focus modes
• Environmental and contextual device changes triggered by focus modes
• Combining notification rules, filters, and screen pairing for a unified experience
• Real-world work and personal scenarios made easier with focus modes
• Hands-on homework: setting up focus filters, screen pairings, and Safari tab groups

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

On this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, Eric asks Mikah how he can keep his Chrome and Safari bookmarks in sync across his Windows machines and Apple devices after losing the home PC he relied on to make it work.

Don't forget to send in your questions for Mikah to answer during the show! hot@twit.tv

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Sponsor:

• Melissa.com/twit

Amanda Silberling of TechCrunch joins Mikah Sargent on this episode of Tech News Weekly! How accurate are Google's AI Overviews? The usage of AI in investigative journalism. Artemis 2! And what Apple's next 50 years could look like.

• Mikah talks about a New York Times report that looks into the accuracy of Google's AI Overviews, which pull information from a group of various sources, from news articles to tabloids, and even social media posts.
• Amanda is fascinated by some tech reporters' slow adoption of utilizing AI in their journalistic process after coming across an article on the discovery of Bitcoin's creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
• Rod Pyle of This Week in Space joins the show to talk about the Artemis II space mission!
• And Scott Stein of CNET chats with Mikah about Apple's first 50 years and what the next 50 years may look like for the company.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Amanda Silberling

Guests: Rod Pyle and Scott Stein

Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly.

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Sponsors:

• framer.com/tnw
• bitwarden.com/twit
• joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

Most users barely scratch the surface of Apple's Focus presets and triggers. Find out how customizing these settings can turn your device into a smart assistant that truly gets your day-to-day routine. These overlooked Focus features can let you shape your own digital boundaries.

• Differences Between Focus Modes and Classic Do Not Disturb
• Overview of Built-In Focus Presets and Customization Options
• Manual Activation and Scheduling of Focus Modes on Devices
• Focus Automation: Timed, Location-Based, App-Based, and Smart Activation
• Controlling Who and What Gets Through During a Focus
• Allow Lists vs Block Lists for Contacts and Apps
• Creating a Custom "Heads Down" Focus Mode Step-by-Step
• Deep Work Focus: Customizing Allowed Notifications and Triggers
• Homework Challenge: Set Up and Live With a Focus Mode

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Sponsor:

• Melissa.com/twit

Check out the iOS apps designed for neurodiverse minds, with hosts sharing real-world favorites that make everyday productivity and focus more effortless for everyone.

• Due app: persistent reminders boost neurodiverse productivity
• Voice Dream: natural article and document audio reading for multiple languages
• Audible: audiobook platform for self-help, ADHD, and productivity content
• Forest: gamified productivity app grows virtual trees for focused work
• Endel: adaptive soundscapes and productivity timer for ADHD and focus
• Calm: sleep stories, meditation, and relaxing audio for stress reduction
• Snippety: customizable keyboard shortcuts for repeated tasks and efficient writing
• App Caps: Art of Flora puzzle game and Sonos Roam 2 portable speaker reviewed

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

Contact iOS Today at iOSToday@twit.tv.

Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.